diff --git a/Documentation/pull-fetch-param.txt b/Documentation/pull-fetch-param.txt
index 6f5ca21748..18cffc25b8 100644
--- a/Documentation/pull-fetch-param.txt
+++ b/Documentation/pull-fetch-param.txt
@@ -75,4 +75,4 @@ ifdef::git-pull[]
 * A parameter <ref> without a colon merges <ref> into the current
   branch,
 endif::git-pull[]
-  while not storing the branch anywhere locally.
+  and updates the remote-tracking branches (if any).
diff --git a/builtin/fetch.c b/builtin/fetch.c
index 287cf4ce8b..e41cc0d733 100644
--- a/builtin/fetch.c
+++ b/builtin/fetch.c
@@ -160,6 +160,8 @@ static struct ref *get_ref_map(struct transport *transport,
 	const struct ref *remote_refs = transport_get_remote_refs(transport);
 
 	if (ref_count || tags == TAGS_SET) {
+		struct ref **old_tail;
+
 		for (i = 0; i < ref_count; i++) {
 			get_fetch_map(remote_refs, &refs[i], &tail, 0);
 			if (refs[i].dst && refs[i].dst[0])
@@ -170,6 +172,20 @@ static struct ref *get_ref_map(struct transport *transport,
 			rm->fetch_head_status = FETCH_HEAD_MERGE;
 		if (tags == TAGS_SET)
 			get_fetch_map(remote_refs, tag_refspec, &tail, 0);
+
+		/*
+		 * For any refs that we happen to be fetching via command-line
+		 * arguments, take the opportunity to update their configured
+		 * counterparts. However, we do not want to mention these
+		 * entries in FETCH_HEAD at all, as they would simply be
+		 * duplicates of existing entries.
+		 */
+		old_tail = tail;
+		for (i = 0; i < transport->remote->fetch_refspec_nr; i++)
+			get_fetch_map(ref_map, &transport->remote->fetch[i],
+				      &tail, 0);
+		for (rm = *old_tail; rm; rm = rm->next)
+			rm->fetch_head_status = FETCH_HEAD_IGNORE;
 	} else {
 		/* Use the defaults */
 		struct remote *remote = transport->remote;
diff --git a/t/t5510-fetch.sh b/t/t5510-fetch.sh
index 789c22827d..ff43e08755 100755
--- a/t/t5510-fetch.sh
+++ b/t/t5510-fetch.sh
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ test_expect_success 'mark initial state of origin/master' '
 	)
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'explicit fetch should not update tracking' '
+test_expect_success 'explicit fetch should update tracking' '
 
 	cd "$D" &&
 	git branch -f side &&
@@ -387,12 +387,12 @@ test_expect_success 'explicit fetch should not update tracking' '
 		o=$(git rev-parse --verify refs/remotes/origin/master) &&
 		git fetch origin master &&
 		n=$(git rev-parse --verify refs/remotes/origin/master) &&
-		test "$o" = "$n" &&
+		test "$o" != "$n" &&
 		test_must_fail git rev-parse --verify refs/remotes/origin/side
 	)
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'explicit pull should not update tracking' '
+test_expect_success 'explicit pull should update tracking' '
 
 	cd "$D" &&
 	git branch -f side &&
@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@ test_expect_success 'explicit pull should not update tracking' '
 		o=$(git rev-parse --verify refs/remotes/origin/master) &&
 		git pull origin master &&
 		n=$(git rev-parse --verify refs/remotes/origin/master) &&
-		test "$o" = "$n" &&
+		test "$o" != "$n" &&
 		test_must_fail git rev-parse --verify refs/remotes/origin/side
 	)
 '